The Official Football/Soccer Thread: 2017-2018 Season
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dance-tonight:
garyb1971:
France - Germany final.Les blues to win it 2-1
France? You must be joking. Remember their performance in South Africa in 2010?
Domenech lost the confidence of the players. Not sure he ever had it, tbh. Blanc has this team re-focused. I don't see them winning the tournament but there won't be a repeat performance of South Africa so you never know. Friendly results don't really mean much but France have defeated England, Brazil and Germany since Blanc took over.
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unclesox:
dance-tonight:
garyb1971:
France - Germany final.Les blues to win it 2-1
France? You must be joking. Remember their performance in South Africa in 2010?
Domenech lost the confidence of the players. Not sure he ever had it, tbh. Blanc has this team re-focused. I don't see them winning the tournament but there won't be a repeat performance of South Africa so you never know. Friendly results don't really mean much but France have defeated England, Brazil and Germany since Blanc took over.
They will be better than two years ago, but still, I doubt that they will make to the semifinale. Esp. now, after Loic Remy can't play.
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lazydynamite88:
the bottom line is that even if england did actually manage to make an impression in this tournament it will be no big deal..there are only 2/3 teams ranked above them in the rankings and tournament betting odds. however as usual england as a bet offer poor value to any punter. technically the english team are as dire as ever.even some of the eastern european banana republics play better football. as a proud scot who is in no doubt about the dire quality of his own team ,i will be supporting ireland at this years championships...infact in many ways i will be supporting two teams,'ireland' and whoever england are playing the sooner they are knocked out and their loud obnoxious followers are sent home the sooner we can all enjoy quality pure football played amongst decent followers in a friendly atmosphere. germany will win this time.they have a good young team and they play quality football although not as pretty as the spanish and dutch.
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Hello, it's been so long, I've joined the Euro 2012 League. Final Results of the Macca Board Fantasy 2011/2012 UEFA Champions League 1 www.oliversanz.com Oliver 715 2 FC Blaugrana Ron 640 3 United Rovers Daniel 565 Daniel finished in the top 25 %, Ron on the top 7 % and I did on the top 1 %. Now the Euro Cup. I don't have any favs yet cause I don't know how the teams will be playing. I don't even know how Spain will be playing. If 4-2-3-1, 4-3-3, who is going to play... Spain is virtually tied with Germany as favourite in the bets businesses. I recorded this just after Spain won the World Cup. Someone in Spain had to do it, I promised to do it anyway. www.oliversanz.com/wearethechampions.mp3
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I've picked my dream team from the 4 teams who i think will meet each other in the semi finals. Semi Finals Holland v Spain Italy v Germany Final Italy v Spain Winners Spain well that's that sorted.
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21st Century Paul:
Hello, it's been so long, I've joined the Euro 2012 League. Final Results of the Macca Board Fantasy 2011/2012 UEFA Champions League 1 www.oliversanz.com Oliver 715 2 FC Blaugrana Ron 640 3 United Rovers Daniel 565 Daniel finished in the top 25 %, Ron on the top 7 % and I did on the top 1 %. Now the Euro Cup. I don't have any favs yet cause I don't know how the teams will be playing. I don't even know how Spain will be playing. If 4-2-3-1, 4-3-3, who is going to play... Spain is virtually tied with Germany as favourite in the bets businesses. I recorded this just after Spain won the World Cup. Someone in Spain had to do it, I promised to do it anyway. www.oliversanz.com/wearethechampions.mp3
Olly I can see you being invited to sing "We Are The Champions" if Spain reach the final, boy oh boy how cool would that be?
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Macsback:
I've picked my dream team from the 4 teams who i think will meet each other in the semi finals. Semi Finals Holland v Spain Italy v Germany Final Italy v Spain Winners Spain well that's that sorted.
ps. follow my predictions at you're own risk as my recent betting record has been nothing short of shoite
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21st Century Paul:
I don't have any favs yet cause I don't know how the teams will be playing. I don't even know how Spain will be playing. If 4-2-3-1, 4-3-3, who is going to play...
Del Bosque has ALWAYS favored the double pivot since taking over. I believe this will be his starting XI v Italy... .................... Casillas .................... Arbeloa ... S.Ramos ... Piqué ... Alba ......... Busquets ..... X.Alonso ......... ....... Xavi ..... Iniesta ..... Silva ....... ...................... Torres .................... I personally would like to see what Aragones use to play, 4-1-4-1. Or even a 4-1-3-2. This would be my ideal lineup... ..................... Casillas ...................... S.Ramos ... Piqué ... J.Martinez ... Alba .............,....... Busquets ..................... ......... Xavi ..... Iniesta ..... Silva ......... ............. Torres ....... Llorente ............. I'm really uncomfortable with Torres starting, but there's not much choice. I was really hoping either Soldado or Adrian would get selected. I would have preferred to see Soldado start up front. I feel Negredo is very overrated and don't understand his selection at all. The injuries to Villa, Puyol and Iraola may end up being the difference. I've touted Germany winning this thing since the draw was made in December, but as the tournament gets closer and closer I'm gradually feeling good about Spain again. I think Italy may get shocked by either Ireland or Croatia for a quarterfinal spot.
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Macsback:
21st Century Paul:
Hello, it's been so long, I've joined the Euro 2012 League. Final Results of the Macca Board Fantasy 2011/2012 UEFA Champions League 1 www.oliversanz.com Oliver 715 2 FC Blaugrana Ron 640 3 United Rovers Daniel 565 Daniel finished in the top 25 %, Ron on the top 7 % and I did on the top 1 %. Now the Euro Cup. I don't have any favs yet cause I don't know how the teams will be playing. I don't even know how Spain will be playing. If 4-2-3-1, 4-3-3, who is going to play... Spain is virtually tied with Germany as favourite in the bets businesses. I recorded this just after Spain won the World Cup. Someone in Spain had to do it, I promised to do it anyway. www.oliversanz.com/wearethechampions.mp3
Olly I can see you being invited to sing "We Are The Champions" if Spain reach the final, boy oh boy how cool would that be?
Well, I already kind of invited myself to do it 2 years ago. Do you mean in the stadium? That's not the same that singing here in front of my PC... they'd better look from someone more experienced in live mass performances.
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unclesox:
21st Century Paul:
I don't have any favs yet cause I don't know how the teams will be playing. I don't even know how Spain will be playing. If 4-2-3-1, 4-3-3, who is going to play...
Del Bosque has ALWAYS favored the double pivot since taking over. I believe this will be his starting XI v Italy... .................... Casillas .................... Arbeloa ... S.Ramos ... Piqué ... Alba ......... Busquets ..... X.Alonso ......... ....... Xavi ..... Iniesta ..... Silva ....... ...................... Torres .................... I personally would like to see what Aragones use to play, 4-1-4-1. Or even a 4-1-3-2. This would be my ideal lineup... ..................... Casillas ...................... S.Ramos ... Piqué ... J.Martinez ... Alba .............,....... Busquets ..................... ......... Xavi ..... Iniesta ..... Silva ......... ............. Torres ....... Llorente ............. I'm really uncomfortable with Torres starting, but there's not much choice. I was really hoping either Soldado or Adrian would get selected. I would have preferred to see Soldado start up front. I feel Negredo is very overrated and don't understand his selection at all. The injuries to Villa, Puyol and Iraola may end up being the difference. I've touted Germany winning this thing since the draw was made in December, but as the tournament gets closer and closer I'm gradually feeling good about Spain again. I think Italy may get shocked by either Ireland or Croatia for a quarterfinal spot.
We talked about the same topic 2 years ago. That 4-2-3-1 is meant to fail for Spain. That's for a defensive team not for a team that is based in passing the ball around. Fortunately Del Bosque changed its mind in the middle the last World Cup and changed into 4-1-2-3 or so, the Barça system. I don't mind the rest as long as they don't play with 2 defensive midfielders, it could be 4-1-2-3, 4-1-3-2, 4-1-4-1... BTW! Del Bosque has finally revealed what has happened with Raul. Last week he was interviewed in the main radio sports show in Spain. He said (he didn't want to but he said...) that the reason for not calling Raul were not "football reasons/competitive reasons, especially now that Villa and Torres are not in great shape" Why then? "Because there is a group of players already fcreated..." : That can be seen as trouble between Raul and the rest, or Real Madrid players vs Barça players. Xavi said this week that the only trouble in Spain's team in the past had been "ego problems". It's that or some orders from "above", whatever the reason, banning Raul, cause the coach wants him in the team. But now we finally can guess there was some kind of ego clash. Still today Raul will be the best forward for Spain... but well, Denmark not called Michael Laudrup when he was at his best and they won the Euro Cup...
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Macsback:
I've picked my dream team from the 4 teams who i think will meet each other in the semi finals. Semi Finals Holland v Spain Italy v Germany Final Italy v Spain Winners Spain well that's that sorted.
I hope the final it's not Italy vs Spain.... I don't want a 0-0 and then penalties.... what a bore. They say Italy has changed his ways but I believe it when I see it. BTW, the bets scandal can make them lose many players. Even Buffon is involved now.
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21st Century Paul:
BTW! Del Bosque has finally revealed what has happened with Raul. Last week he was interviewed in the main radio sports show in Spain. He said (he didn't want to but he said...) that the reason for not calling Raul were not "football reasons/competitive reasons, especially now that Villa and Torres are not in great shape" Why then? "Because there is a group of players already fcreated..." : That can be seen as trouble between Raul and the rest, or Real Madrid players vs Barça players. Xavi said this week that the only trouble in Spain's team in the past had been "ego problems". It's that or some orders from "above", whatever the reason, banning Raul, cause the coach wants him in the team. But now we finally can guess there was some kind of ego clash. Still today Raul will be the best forward for Spain... but well, Denmark not called Michael Laudrup when he was at his best and they won the Euro Cup...
: You still won't get off of Raul's juevos. The ego problems would have continued to exist if he had been on the team. You should have turned the page on Raul during EURO 08 when Aragones didn't want him. Spain were losers with him and have won EURO and the World Cup without him. Lately there has been friction between the Barcelona and Real Madrid players due to all those Clasicos they played last season. I believe Mourinho is to blame for it all. El Clasico has gotten out of hand since he arrived. There's rumors that Sergio Ramos and Gerard Pique don't talk to each other because of the heated rivalry but today Ramos said that they get along well. Carles Puyol and David Villa visited the squad at Las Rozas today to lend moral support. Afterwards the team took the official team photograph.
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Well, that Spain were losers without Raul doesn't matter much to me... they were with Di Stefano, Gento, Amancio, Guardiola, Hierro, Butragueño and stil they were some of their best players ever. (and Real Madrid were not losers with Raul) Even most dramatically with Michael Laudrup and Denmark. The topic is still important today... you don't like much Negredo, for instance, there is trouble with the forward positions. Then there is the real question of the issue, what happened between Raul and the rest, Raul and Xavi or whoever. I'd the pick just the same starting than you except for Llorente, I would prefer Cesc, Cazorla, Alonso... instead.
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21st Century Paul:
Macsback:
I've picked my dream team from the 4 teams who i think will meet each other in the semi finals. Semi Finals Holland v Spain Italy v Germany Final Italy v Spain Winners Spain well that's that sorted.
I hope the final it's not Italy vs Spain.... I don't want a 0-0 and then penalties.... what a bore. They say Italy has changed his ways but I believe it when I see it. BTW, the bets scandal can make them lose many players. Even Buffon is involved now.
Not to worry I've not got Buffon in my team, as for an Italy v Spain final, as long as the end result is the same, a Spanish victory
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21st Century Paul:
Then there is the real question of the issue, what happened between Raul and the rest, Raul and Xavi or whoever.
They say Raul had too much influence in the dressing room when he was at Real Madrid. How ironic that he left the club just as Mourinho arrived. I can imagine Raul's ego probably allowed him to try the same thing with La Furia. Without him Spain became more of a team, perhaps off the pitch, definitely on it.
21st Century Paul:
Well, that Spain were losers without Raul doesn't matter much to me... they were with Di Stefano, Gento, Amancio, Guardiola, Hierro, Butragueño and stil they were some of their best players ever. (and Real Madrid were not losers with Raul)
You can have the greatest of individual talent in a squad, but if they can't work together as a team then it means nothing. Real Madrid has proven that the past few years. I'll also throw in that Spain were a bit unlucky at times, especially during the quarterfinals... - knocked out of Mexico '86 on penalties - knocked out of EURO '96 on penalties - knocked out of "Japorea" 2002 on penalties Granted, they defeated Italy in 2008 on penalties but most everyone believed were the best side of the tournament.
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unclesox:
21st Century Paul:
Then there is the real question of the issue, what happened between Raul and the rest, Raul and Xavi or whoever.
They say Raul had too much influence in the dressing room when he was at Real Madrid. How ironic that he left the club just as Mourinho arrived. I can imagine Raul's ego probably allowed him to try the same thing with La Furia. Without him Spain became more of a team, perhaps off the pitch, definitely on it.
21st Century Paul:
Well, that Spain were losers without Raul doesn't matter much to me... they were with Di Stefano, Gento, Amancio, Guardiola, Hierro, Butragueño and stil they were some of their best players ever. (and Real Madrid were not losers with Raul)
You can have the greatest of individual talent in a squad, but if they can't work together as a team then it means nothing. Real Madrid has proven that the past few years. I'll also throw in that Spain were a bit unlucky at times, especially during the quarterfinals... - knocked out of Mexico '86 on penalties - knocked out of EURO '96 on penalties - knocked out of "Japorea" 2002 on penalties Granted, they defeated Italy in 2008 on penalties but most everyone believed were the best side of the tournament.
Sure Raul has very influence in any team. But I don't think that Raul individual talent is individualistic at all. Actually his trademark is that he is a much better player that he seems to be because he works for the team, for the victory of the team. There's hardly a forward who defenses so much instead of saving energy for when he has the ball (as he used to in their "aclaimed days"). On the other hand I know Raul can be over the top about playing as team, just like if he was the coach. Just like Guardiola did as a player too. Some players will not like that at all. And if you're messing with someone like Mourinho, he would not like it as he wants to control EVERYTHING. I don't believe in luck, Spain didn't have the right attitude then. Lack of confidence, losers mindset or whatever the name is... there was a change in that in all Spanish sport in the 21st Century with Spain's team being the last team. IMO, the most important match for Spain in all time was the Italy game. They knew they couldn't score. In the past they wouldn't have been so naive to attack in a silly way making Italy win with counterattacks. But they didn't "If you can't win, focus on not losing". And they knew they had better shooters for the penalties. Remember my video game simulations about how the only good plan was 0-0 and winning in the penalties?. This time Italy is not that double wall they were. Buffon; Zambrotta, Panucci, Chiellini, Grosso; Aquilani, De Rossi, Ambrosini, Perrota; Cassano and Toni
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In a few hours it starts, finally.
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Poland 1-1 Greece. Had just about everything. Full of talking points. Great start to the tournament. Russia up next against Czech Republic. I like Russia to go far. Russia and France I have as my 'darkhorses', meaning I could see one or both reaching the semifinals. Maybe even the final.
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The England team visited an orphanage in Poland today. "It's heartbreaking to see their sad little faces with no hope" said Igor, aged 6.
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I've only seen part of what has happened. Poland vs Greece. Quite chaotic, not much level in the game but not boring at all. Russia vs Czech. I didn't see it. Russia is perhaps my fav team after Spain, cause they do the passing game, don't they?. One defensive midfielder, 3 forwards, unlike Germany, Netherlands, England, France, Italy, Portugal... I guess they deserved to win 4-1. Netherlands vs Denmark. I liked Denmark! They made the most of what they have, very smart playing, nothing spectacular but they played great. Netherlands... double pivot, offensive changes too late... a waste of a team. Portugal vs Germany I didn't see it much. Portugal didn't attack much and in the end Germany scored, as usual... I think. Then Portugal really started to try to score, but only for some minutes.